Perth Racecourse Appoints First Chief Executive in 400 Year History!

Award-winning visitor attraction Perth Racecourse has appointed a Chief Executive for the first time in its 400 year history. Hazel Peplinski took up the new position on 1^st January 2016 and has wasted no time in laying plans for the summer jump season at the UK’s most northerly course.

Hailing from a horseracing background – her father John Dudgeon was a permit-holder trainer and her brother Sandy a successful amateur jockey – Hazel has built an enviable reputation in Scottish racing holding positions that include Chief Executive, Director, Racing Manager and Clerk of the Course at Hamilton Park, as well as further Clerking roles at both Kelso and Ayr racecourse. Earlier in her career Hazel was a Public Relations Officer for the Racecourse Association (RCA) and obtained Event Management experience in the golf and tennis arenas.

Hazel commented, “The decision to appoint a Chief Executive rather a new General Manager reflects just how far Perth Racecourse has come in the last ten years. In what has been a difficult time for the industry Perth has consistently bucked trends to show a solid increase in both visitor numbers and fixtures. With annual turnover now in excess of £2.5million it is an opportune time to raise the bar.

I was hugely honoured to be approached by the committee and have grabbed this unique opportunity with both hands. Having been brought up in a large National Hunt racing family, I do feel as though I’m coming home and will be proud to welcome life-long industry friends and business contacts to Perth Racecourse.”